Senegalese Fish Yassa with Couscous

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs White fish fillets
• 2 large Onions
• 0.5 cup Lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 3 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 1 each Bay leaf
• 0.75 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Black pepper
• 1 cup Couscous

Instructions

1. 1Cut the 1.5 lbs of white fish fillets into 2-inch (5 cm) serving-sized pieces. Thinly slice the 2 large onions into 1/8-inch (3 mm) thick rings, and mince the 3 cloves of garlic.
2. 2In a medium bowl, combine the 0.5 cup of lemon juice, 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard, the minced 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of thyme, 0.75 tsp of salt, and 0.25 tsp of black pepper to create the marinade. Add the 1.5 lbs of cut white fish fillets to the bowl and gently toss to ensure all pieces are coated; let the fish marinate at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
3. 3Heat the 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven (at least 5-quart / 4.7-liter capacity) over medium heat (approximately 325-350°F / 160-175°C). Add the thinly sliced 2 large onions and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and lightly golden brown.
4. 4Add the marinated 1.5 lbs of white fish fillets, along with all the marinade from the bowl and the 1 bay leaf, to the pot with the onions. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low (approximately 200-225°F / 95-107°C), cover the pot tightly, and braise for 20-25 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) when measured with an instant-read thermometer.
5. 5While the fish is braising, prepare the couscous: bring 1.25 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Once boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the 1 cup of couscous, cover tightly, and let it stand for 5 minutes until all the water is absorbed. Fluff the cooked couscous with a fork.
6. 6Carefully remove the 1 bay leaf from the fish yassa before serving. Spoon the braised fish yassa and its flavorful sauce over the prepared 1 cup of couscous.

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